Michaela
Deren Akyeam-Pong has admitted guilt to nine offenses, including kidnapping, assault, and multiple firearm-related charges, in connection with the kidnapping of Ontario’s self-styled “Crypto King,” Aiden Pleterski.
Key points:
- Deren Akyeam-Pong pleaded guilty to nine charges, including kidnapping, assault, and firearms offenses, in the abduction of Ontario’s “Crypto King,” Aiden Pleterski.
- Pleterski allegedly misused over $16 million of investor funds, with only $3 million recovered from more than $40 million raised, fueling the high-profile kidnapping case.
- Co-accused Akil Heywood, a former investor tasked with recovering missing funds, was arrested in 2023; Pleterski faces upcoming fraud and money laundering trial in October 2025.
According to a report from CBC, Akyeam-Pong entered guilty pleas in the Ontario Superior Court in Toronto, supported by an agreed statement of facts outlining his involvement in the case. His admission prompted defense lawyers for the remaining co-accused to seek an adjournment, delaying the trial that had been scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Akil Heywood, one of the other defendants in the abduction of Ontario’s “Crypto King,” was a former investor in Pleterski’s ventures who allegedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The case stems from Pleterski’s widely publicized 2022 bankruptcy, which exposed the collapse of his lavish lifestyle built on investor funds.
The “Crypto King” was known for flaunting wealth through private jets and luxury cars, yet court filings claim he misappropriated over $16 million in investor money. Of the more than $40 million he reportedly raised through cryptocurrency and foreign exchange schemes, only about $3 million has been recovered. Heywood was initially enlisted by investors to assist in retrieving the missing funds before being arrested in 2023.
On the same day CBC reporters confirmed Heywood’s arrest, a 12-minute video surfaced showing a bruised and distressed Pleterski apologizing to investors and outlining how their funds were used. Although the footage appeared to include an admission of wrongdoing, Pleterski’s legal team maintains that the statement was made under duress.
In May 2024, Pleterski was arrested and formally charged with fraud and money laundering connected to the same investments that led to his 2022 abduction. His trial is scheduled to begin in October 2025.
The kidnapping case of the Ontario “Crypto King” draws attention to the growing risks surrounding high-profile crypto ventures and the potential consequences when vast sums of investor funds are mishandled.
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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
